Bovine arsenic toxicosis

J Vet Diagn Invest. 2004 Sep;16(5):436-8. doi: 10.1177/104063870401600512.

Abstract

A ranch in central South Dakota had a number of dead calves because of arsenic poisoning. The clinical picture included diarrhea, central nervous system signs, and death. Gross necropsy findings included adequate body fat, stomachs full of normal-appearing ingesta, and large amounts of greenish brown watery fluid in the intestine and colon. Microscopically there was severe lymphoid tissue necrosis in the mesenteric lymph nodes and gut-associated lymphoid tissue. Chemical analysis of kidneys showed no significant amounts of lead; however, kidney arsenic concentrations were 25 to 44 ppm. The source was a small pile of Paris Green (common name for cupric acetoarsenite) found in an old dump site in the pasture.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arsenic Poisoning / etiology
  • Arsenic Poisoning / veterinary*
  • Arsenites / poisoning*
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Cattle Diseases / metabolism
  • Cattle Diseases / pathology
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / pathology
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / veterinary
  • Diarrhea / chemically induced
  • Diarrhea / pathology
  • Diarrhea / veterinary
  • Female
  • Kidney / chemistry

Substances

  • Arsenites
  • Paris green